Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-10-07
The HAzEn BILL.
Resuming Of the Hearing Thurs
day Morning.
Interesting Testimony Before the
Judiciary Committee.
Sworn Statements of Summoned
Witnesses.

CONCORD, N. H., Oct. 6
The House judiciary committee resumed
the hearing, Thur.day morning on the report
ed alleged attempted bribery of members in
connection with railroad matters. Stillman
Merrill, represet tative, of Dorchester, WAS
sworn. "Some three weeks sgo, Mr.. Calef,
representative from Darlington, asked me
how felt on the railroad question and asked
me il l would change my mind for $1,000"
To Gen. Marston-"Calef knew | was
against the Hszen bill, as | had talked with
him. He said "Il give you sl0OO,' or You
can have Sl000.' l don't remember which.
Never had any other talk with Calef ON the
subject
To Mr.. Colby.-Nobody else was present
when he made the offer. l met him on
Montgomery street in Concord some two
weeks ago, we take our meals at the same
place, it was just before we got to the State
House that he made talk about $1,000.
To Mr.. Page.--Knew Calet well as a mem
Der of the legislature. | don't know how MIR.
Moore knew of the offer. l didn't consider
the matter of any great consequence and sup
posed | shouldn't hear of it again. l am
here on summons.
James w. Lathe, representative from Man
chester, was sworn, | am here on summons.
On Wednesday of the last week in August,
| left Concord for home on the afternoon
train. When | got to the Manchester sta
ton, the gentlenen saw and asked me about
railroad matters. My position was in favor
of the Concord road and | tried to defend it
as best | could That man kept me talking
there long time. He said to, me in SUBJ
stance, there was something to be made in it,
and he wanted all the Manchester boys to
get somf thing snd continued: when you
make up your 'rpind the Hazen bill is all
right, will put you IN the way of making
| next saw him the Saturday
before the vote was taken on indefinite post
pouement of the Hazen bill. He came to the
garden where | was working, and again said,
81 want all the Manchester boys to get some
thiug." / don't want to give his name. If
must it is Alfred Quinby. He said he
didn't want to buy anybody, but when made
up my mind OF my own accord that the Ha-
zen bill was right aud voted for it, | could
get about $1,000. | told him | would give
him no encouragement. Before | left him,
he told me to let him know before the next
Wednesday night, so that he could get the
money for me. He gave me to understand
that | could get $1,000 to vote for the Hazen
bill. He spoke 10 me on the street in Con-
cord after that, and said when the vote on
the Hszen bill was taken, he hoped he and |
would be on the same side. | have seen
Quimby here at times during the session;
have no knowledge of any other attempt to
influence any member.
To Mr.. Branch.-Our conversation in the
depot lasted nearly two hours told him my
position he said that he had took in Concord
and Perrigewasset Valley railroad; have al
ways considered him respectable man and
so still consider him he is about so years of
age and stands well so far as | know.
To MIR flCnupnr Mr. nuImby . q
of means and owns largely of real estate.
To Mr.. Page-Have been twice to the
White Mountains during the session. Don't
remember speaking of Quimby's offer to any
one at that time.
To Gen. Marston.-After he left l told
my wife he had offered me $1,000 to vote for
the Hazen bill, and she said to me, "Don't
you do 1t, we have got money enough"
To Mr.. Sulloway.-Mr Quinby lives about
one and half miles from where do.
Alonzo B. Lang, representative from Alton,
was sworn. Mr.. Frank Jones called me into
a room at the Phoenix Hotel in Concord,
about three weeks ago, | think, and as
used to be locomotive engineer on the Bos-
ton G. Maine, he said he wanted to give me
lob He wanted should work for the Hs-
zen bill and help them. Nothing was said, |
think. about voting. He said | might have
good lob and $500, S4o0 or $500 in addi-
ton. | don't remember what the amount of
money stated was. | told him that he didn't
have money enough to bribe me, neither did
anv other mar. This is about all that was
said. Another gentleman came in and left.
| don't think there was any other talk.
To Gen. Marston,-when l told Jones he
had not money enough to bribe me, he said
he did not want to bribe me; nobody else
| ever attempted to bribe me. C. A. Sinclair
was present during part, if not all the time
| when had an interview with Jones. | have
| 10 perhaps forty or fifty about this matter
as | didn't like to be talked to ir that manner.
don't know of any attempt to brlbe other
| members.
| To MIR. Branch.-Left the Boston & Maine
| u or l5 years ago am a farmer now; met
Jones once before our interview in the hotel.
| went into the room because Mr.. Sinclair
| said Jones wanted to see me; nevor spoke to
Sinclair before this; Sinclair spoke to me in
the hotel and both went to the room together
| and Sinclair introduced me, Jones first said,
al want you to go running an engine on the
Whitefeld railroad My remark was, ''you
haven't money enough to hire" he said 81
don't want to brbe body" Our interview
lasted perhaps thirty minutes, never had any
other talk with him about this matter.
To Mr.. Page.-Mr. Sinclair said word
or TWO UuTlDg NY iutSiF WIN oOuCss Duh
don't remember what it was. left the Bos-
ton and Maine railroad at the time of the
strike. They didn't turn me off | belonged
to the Brotherhood and eft at that time.
had then been an engineer five or six years.
Mr. c. A. Sinclair then addressed the COM
mittee aud said that as his name had been
| mentioned before the committee last night,
in connection with questionable transactions
he desired chance TO testify. The state
ment had been sent to the newspapers and he
felt that great injustice had been done him.
He asked to be permitted to testify then as
it would take but a brief time. The chair
man informed him that he would have rea-
sonable opportunity to give his evidence, and
he would be notified when to appear. At 10
O'Clock the hearing adjourned until A.
NJ, tomorrow.